Delayed in Texas

Topic: Delayed in Texas (Read 1375 times) previous topic - next topic

Delayed in Texas

December 24, 2016, 07:34:24 pm

Well, this is not where we expected to be spending the holiday.

We pulled out of NAC on Thursday morning after all service was completed, fully anticipating arriving in Mesa, Arizona on Monday noon after an easy four day drive out. All was fine until we got up to depart on Friday morning from Seguin, Texas.

Started the coach up and had it idling while I did my walk-around to check things over. Got back in and immediately smelled a strong electrical odor. Shut down the engine and inspected everything I could think of with no apparent issues. Started it back up and saw right away I only had 12 volt output from my alternator. Not good.

Started up the generator and could get maybe 13.2 to 13.4 volts by leaving the boost switch on, so I'm thinking a fried voltage regulator and/or alternator. I think what I was smelling was the engine batteries being overcharged.

Contacted Coachnet and they were able to locate a diesel shop in Seguin which was closing at noon. Got in touch and confirmed they could not get to us until they reopened on Tuesday morning.

Soooo, here we sit. Going to try and make the best of it by visiting the Riverwalk in San Antonio again. Not sure what will be open but we're going to see what other sights there are to see around San Anton.

Hope all are safe and warm for the Holidays. Was reading the post about the high winds just west of here. Everyone be careful!

Happy Holidays!

Don and Nancy

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #1 – December 24, 2016, 07:41:23 pm

Good luck and safe travels.. Merry Christmas

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #2 – December 24, 2016, 07:48:45 pm

You wouldn't have been able to smell the batteries overcharging on such a short time. If you smelled electrical in the cockpit it was probably a short.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #3 – December 24, 2016, 07:52:48 pm

Don, either remove the big red cable from the back of your alternator, or remove drive belt.
You can then turn on your gen and close boost switch and take off, the inverter charger will supply your coach batteries till you can check out the alternator and regulator.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #4 – December 24, 2016, 07:56:29 pm

Look at it this way: you're safe, healthy and the coach did not stick you somewhere where it was in anyone's way and caused strife. Works, for me, Happy Christmas!

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #5 – December 24, 2016, 08:06:39 pm

Quote from: craneman – December 24, 2016, 07:48:45 pm

If you smelled electrical in the cockpit it was probably a short.

I neglected to say the smell was in the bedroom. No odor at all from mid-coach forward. No tripped circuit breakers. Going to be looking for a short, though.

Thanks.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #6 – December 24, 2016, 08:36:14 pm

In Texas we love company, but not the ones that are stranded here. I hope you

find something fun to do in San Antonio. At least it is not terribly cold. We saw

80 degrees here in Nacogdoches today. Hope you get back on the road quickly.

Carter
Nac

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #7 – December 24, 2016, 08:49:47 pm

We have driven for over a week without alternator by running generator with boost switch on to keep engine batteries from discharging. But I wonder what you smelled. How about a little diagnosis, like lift bed to look into electric section, run engine, look around. Most shops would not know where to start with our Foretravels when it comes to non-engine repairs. Put a volt meter on isolator to monitor alternator. Likely your Foreforums tech support team will be a help.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #8 – December 24, 2016, 09:09:54 pm

Agree with Barry and Cindy. Most diesel shops will have no idea on a Foretravel electrical problem.
Just light off gen and merge batteries. Look under bed and if you see no smoke or smell bad things, you can drive it till you find someone qualified to work on it. Removing belt and red cable is just a safety thing, if your coach battery voltage is okay, you are probably safe.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #9 – December 24, 2016, 09:58:38 pm

Could have been the battery isolator like others have said raise the bed and have a look see at things.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #10 – December 24, 2016, 10:02:17 pm

Good suggestions, all. I don't have as much access in the 2007, as the bed does not lift, but I will try to see what I can from the rear.

Thanks everyone, and have a safe holiday!

Don

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #11 – December 24, 2016, 11:29:07 pm

Ok your bed does not lift, so your electrical stuff is probably in a bay, but diagnosis is still doable if you are so inclined. No matter what, have a Merry Christmas, and maybe Santa will send good spirits to help you figure stuff out. If you have a volt meter, it will help.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #12 – December 25, 2016, 12:45:55 am

Don,

We have a clean cul-de-sac 50A site for you with water about 30 minutes north. Our coach is outta here for a good while, so--use the spot.
Let me know. Lunch Mon?

Floor it.

Merry Christmas, Y'all. OK

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #13 – December 25, 2016, 07:12:38 am

Turn on your Boost switch and if it's your battery isolator, you will be good to go. That will get you home.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #14 – December 25, 2016, 07:20:50 am

We were on our way to do a soup kitchen volunteer thing in New Orleans on Christmas, 2001. Lost a belt in Destin, FL and had to sit it out there until shops opened on the 26th. Sometimes you need to sit and spend a slow day enjoying Christmas.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #15 – December 25, 2016, 09:44:25 am

I would suggest NOT starting the engine/driving until verifying the cause of the electrical smell. Something got extremely hot. The smell was quite possibly insulation on a wire. With that melted, you could have a dead short if that now bare wire touches something.

Could be something easy or not, but you sure don't want to compound the problem.

Absolutely, after verifying the cause of the problem and taking measures to isolate it, you can drive with generator on, boost switch on. Verify that boost switch/solenoid are working because voltage at dash will now be 13+ VDC.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #16 – December 25, 2016, 10:08:12 am

Whatever you can do to move will be a good reward as towing is never easy on coach or owners.

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #17 – December 25, 2016, 10:16:56 am

A good mobile tech might be another option (on Monday, since it's Christmas).

I don't know if Beau Reece travels that far. The folks on the Newmar forum like Brooks Wagner. I've seen him referred from Houston to Kerrville (and he is usually the tech for their Texas rallies)

Motorcoach Motor Care, LLC
832-267-8349
832-331-1939 (Cell)

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #18 – December 25, 2016, 11:06:39 am

Don,

Check the wood base on your bed. It is probably screwed down to secure it but still lifts with struts. That is how my 2007 works. Mine has two screws and once removed, the bed hinges up with two gas struts. Engine access is with bed up and plywood cover removed.

"I don't have as much access in the 2007, as the bed does not lift, but I will try to see what I can from the rear."

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #19 – December 25, 2016, 01:19:55 pm

Quote from: brrving – December 25, 2016, 11:06:39 am

Check the wood base on your bed. It is probably screwed down to secure it but still lifts with struts. That is how my 2007 works.

Well, after reading this and closer inspection, it turns out my bed has struts too! I don't know what I would do without you folks.

Going to dig into this a little deeper today.

Many thanks.

Don

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #20 – December 25, 2016, 01:23:12 pm

Quote from: Old Knucklehead – December 25, 2016, 12:45:55 am

We have a clean cul-de-sac 50A site for you with water about 30 minutes north.

Paul & Kathleen,

That's awfully nice of you folks. I think we are going to stay hunkered down here and try to limit the driving. The diesel shop is about three miles from here. Going to continue to look today to see if I can locate any burned insulation or evidence of overheating.

Again, thank you so much for your kind offer. You are special people.

Happy Holidays!

Don and Nancy

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #21 – December 25, 2016, 03:45:36 pm

When I worked at the Liberty Lake FT Store, a FT customer called from Oklahoma somewhere, on Christmas Eve Day. Their fan came apart, and went through the radiator. They asked me what to do.
Worse phone call I ever got. Sorry for your troubles. All this advice is good.
Merry Christmas, hope you are on the road soon.
Chris and Tammy White

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #22 – December 27, 2016, 04:07:06 pm

Well, we think the mystery may have been solved.

Got the coach over to Womack Diesel Services in Seguin, Texas this morning. At first, they thought it might be the alternator. However, after more electrical testing and consulting my wiring diagrams (thanks to James at Foretravel for that heads up), the battery isolator became the primary suspect. The alternator was putting out close to 16 volts to the isolator, with a reading of about 13.9 volts going to the coach batteries. Nothing was going to the engine batteries.

The next step was to remove the cover in the bedroom and lay eyes on the isolator (the tech was able to do the test from below, but just barely). Once we had the cover off, it became apparent that was the source of the problem. The isolator became so hot, it split and some kind of black goo had seeped out before it cooled. After several consultations with both MOT and Foretravel (James) the consensus is this is not due to anything I was subjecting the system to (always a concern for me), just bad timing and the diodes in the isolator giving up the ghost.

Next issue was trying to find a replacement. This is a 200 amp isolator mating up to my 200 amp alternator. The highest amperage they could find around here was 160 amp--no go. So, I finally got hold of Foretravel parts at 2:30 and had them ship the part overnight. Their cutoff is 2:30, so we are just crossing our fingers that it made it out and we don't have to lose another day.

In reality, I'm relieved by what we found today. If it was the alternator that had fried, that would have explained the voltage drop but would not have explained the smell that was generated. I'm fairly comfortable that we have found the source of the problem. Can't deny, though, that Nancy will end up riding in the back and sniffing the air for the first few miles when we finally get going.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and suggestions. Being broke down is one thing--being broke down and isolated is much worse.

Safe travels, everybody!

Don

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #23 – December 27, 2016, 04:25:07 pm

Glad you're squared away, we had a bad power pedestal that fried the transfer switch in the stern. "That Smell" will last for some time, believe me!

Re: Delayed in Texas

Reply #24 – December 27, 2016, 06:44:38 pm

Quote from: red tractor – December 24, 2016, 09:58:38 pm

Could have been the battery isolator like others have said raise the bed and have a look see at things.

Forgot to mention, kudos to red tractor for diagnosing this before anyone else!!

Don

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